Reports in the papers today suggest that the German Bundesliga could be set for a return as early as May 9.
The country seem to have managed to flatten the curve as small shops and other small businesses have begun to reopen across the nation – although social distancing continues.
Now, as a result of the social lockdown measures softening, there could be a return for football in the country as soon as May 9.
In a statement, German minister Markus Soder confirmed that the government has been in talks with the German FA about the Bundesliga returning.
“The prerequisite is that there is a well thought-out concept,” Soder said.
“What the DFL have presented shows that protective measures are in place. I could imagine that we can go back to the state of games behind closed doors.
“It is a tightrope walk. We now have to be careful not to overdo it or be frivolous. Games with audience participation are completely unthinkable. Games behind closed doors are also a tightrope walk.
“It is conceivable that we might be able to play a ghost round [behind closed doors] at the earliest from May 9th. It is clear: a weekend with football is much more bearable than a weekend without football.”
The Bundesliga has been halted since March 13 but earlier this month, the clubs were allowed to return to full training.
The significance of the German division being able to resume in May is that it would allow the league season to be properly concluded before the June 30th date that currently has Premier League clubs panicking.
Currently, Bayern sit atop the league with nine games left to play. They have a four point gap to Dortmund in second who lead a chasing pack of four teams all within four points of one another.
If this news is true, it’s what we’ve all been waiting to hear for what seems an eternity. Personally, I can’t wait for the Bundesliga to return!
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